Choose the correct options
There are many ways of using commas in sentences. Here is the list of the most common cases.
Commas are used to separate the items in lists of words, phrases and clauses.
To decorate her house, she bought red, rose, pink and white flowers.
Commas are also used with discourse markers, e.g. however, as a rule, for example, nevertheless, still, besides, etc.
In fact, it was the beginning of the end.
Commas are put after and before vocatives and interjections.
Wow,it is a good deal. (Interjection.)
It is your fault,John. (A vocative case*.)
Commas are used to separate dependent clauses, phrases in opposition and non-defining relative clauses.
The man, though he looked nice, turned out to be a villain.
NOTE! When the sentence includes such interjections as and and but, the comma isn't used if there is only one subject in the sentence.
Sarah opened the doorandcalled for help.
Mr Simpson found the presentbutdecided not to open it.
However, if there are two different subjects in the sentence, the comma before and and but should be used.
Mary bought a house last week, but her parents didn't approve of her choice.
* A vocative case is used to show who the speaker addresses directly.
In which sentences are commas used correctly?
- My favourite colours are green, red, and yellow.
- She decided to call the taxi, but changed her mind in the end.
- Well, it was my fault!
- Nevertheless, she did her best to achieve the goal.
- The project, which was implemented many years ago failed.
- Mr Black opened the door, but there was no one in.
- What are you looking for, Tom?
- Amanda, though she was 65, took a mortgage loan.